Local basketball fans will get a chance to watch the Motor City Cruise against the Grand Rapids Gold on TV tonight.
But when they tune in to Bally Sports Detroit at 7 p.m., familiar faces will be noticed since many of the G-League franchise’s players dressed for the Detroit Pistons during the team’s recent COVID-19 outbreak.
The highlight came on Jan. 1 when the Pistons had only three regulars available in a 117-116 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Saddiq Bey’s winning 3-pointer was the beneficiary of a nice play from Cruise point guard Derrick Walton Jr., who delivered the winning assist by passing the basketball between the legs of a Spurs defender.
Walton admitted the pass finding it’s way through the legs of Spurs center Jakob Poeltl was a touch fortunate.
“That was not planned at all,” Walton said Friday afternoon after a short practice. “I wasn't even going to joke and act like it was. I wouldn't even say a freak accident, I wouldn't even say lucky. It was a play that just kind of happened and it just so happened to be the most important play of the game.”
Ten G-Leaguers dressed for the Pistons in the game that has been the catalyst for a recent uptick, with the main club (through Friday night) earning six of its 11 victories on the season since the calendar turned to 2022.
There have been several stories to emerge in the inaugural season of the Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate. Walton, a Detroit native and former Michigan standout, is playing in his hometown. After stints with a North Dakota junior college, Chicago State and the British Basketball League, forward Trayvon Palmer made his NBA debut at the age of 27. D.J. Bakker, who spent the previous three seasons as a player development assistant under head coach Dwane Casey, is getting an opportunity to run his own program. That’s just a few of the stories that have made the first season of the Cruise (13-5 through Friday) a success.
The Cruise, which operates in the Henry Ford-Detroit Pistons Performance Center, hopes to create a friendly rivalry with the Gold. The Pistons’ previous affiliate was in Grand Rapids, but Pistons front office executives have long said it would be ideal for the affiliate to be closer.
The Cruise represents the third piece of Pistons and Cruise owner Tom Gores’ decision to move the franchise back to downtown Detroit. First, the Pistons would play home games at Little Caesars Arena. Second, the Pistons would build a new headquarters that would house basketball and business operations. The last step was to bring a G League franchise to Detroit to offer an improved developmental experience for young players while also bringing an affordable entertainment option for city residents.
It was realized when the Cruise opened the season in November at the Wayne State Arena.
G-League franchises are mainly places for young prospects to develop necessary skills to land permanent spots in the NBA. But in the case of Cruise’s inaugural season, the responsibility has been a touch more.
“This is why you (have the G-League affiliate close),” Bakker said. “The ultimate purpose of the Motor City Cruise is to serve the Pistons, to help prepare the Pistons in any way we can, whether it's developing players with the Cruise or get them ready to play for the Pistons.
“We understand our responsibility with the Motor City Cruise is to serve and help out the Pistons however we can.”